General
VIDEO | Bahrain Grand Prix Long Run Analysis
Could Fernando Alonso be a serious title contender in 2023? Well it is too soon to say, but he looks set to challenge for the race win at the season opener.
When testing finished last Saturday the general consensus was that Alonso was going to be heading the midfield and that Aston Martin were probably best of the rest. But following FP1 and FP2 for the Bahrain Grand Prix there’s a genuine belief that Alonso could challenge for victory on Sunday in Bahrain and sparking speculation that he could be a title challenger.
Average long run time
The main evidence for this is in the long run data. Alonso had an average long run lap time of 1:37.2 on the soft tyres. Level with Verstappen, and better than any other drivers. His teammate, Lance Stroll was averaging 1.38.4 on the mediums.
Sector by sector - The track itself
Let’s have a look at the track itself. The first and third sectors are virtually mirror images of each other. These two sectors will really test the straight-line performance of the cars. The first and third sectors will also test the balance under heavy braking. The run down to turn one is something to look out for. With four significantly long straights, there's a serious power focus at this circuit. Top speeds on these straights will tell us how much the teams were sandbagging.
Fernando Alonso recorded the fastest sector one and sector three times in FP2. Verstappen was around two-tenths slower in the first sector, and almost equal in the final sector. Aston Martin could have been working with their engines turned right up, and Red Bull less so, but at the same time it could be the fact that Aston are just really strong in this area.
The middle sector is completely different. Sector two in Bahrain is much more twisty and has a range of slow-medium speed corners. It’s the technical part of the track. Cars that record the quickest sector times here perhaps have more downforce. Acing all three sectors shows a good package. Verstappen recorded the quickest sector two time, though he only beat Alonso by just over one-tenth showing that they both have a pretty good balance.
Ultimately only time will tell and the picture will be painted further on Saturday before it’s completed Sunday, but for now, Fernando Alonso should be taken very seriously!